仁王護國般若波羅蜜多經疏 1.63

1.63

Regarding Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa: in Sanskrit it is Gṛdhrakūṭa; in Chinese it is Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa (Vulture Peak), and also called the Vulture Terrace. The *Dazhidulun* gives two meanings: [1] The peak resembles a vulture, hence it is called the Vulture Head. [2] It also says: In the Śītavana to the south of Rājagṛha there were many dead bodies; flocks of vultures came to devour them and then returned to roost on the peak, so the people of the time named it Vulture Head Mountain. Another record states: 'Holy Vulture' refers to how this bird possesses a spiritual sensitivity and knows when a person is about to die; when someone is about to die, they flock to hover over that home, waiting for the body to be taken to the forest to fly down and feed; because of this advance knowledge, it is called the Holy Vulture. Furthermore, Paramārtha's notes cite the *Vibhāṣā* stating that Śākyamuni Bodhisattva manifested as a vulture; the details are as in that text, and being voluminous, they are not recorded here. The *Xiyu Ji* says: "The so-called Vulture Terrace adjoins the southern slope of the northern mountain, standing loftily and solitary; not only do vultures roost there, but it also resembles a high terrace, where the azure sky and verdant peaks reflect each other in alternating light and shade. During the nearly fifty years the Tathāgata was in the world, he mostly dwelt on this mountain widely expounding the wondrous Dharma. In order to hear the Dharma, King Bimbisāra mobilized laborers to pave steps with stone from the foot of the peak, spanning ravines and ascending crags, more than ten paces wide and five to six li long. Along the way are two small stūpas: one called 'Dismounting', where the king reached this point and proceeded on foot; the other called 'Dismissing Commoners', which screened out commoners, not allowing them to proceed together. The summit of the mountain is long from east to west and narrow from north to south; bordering the sheer cliff to the west is a brick vihāra, high, wide, and of extraordinary construction, opening its door to the east, where the Tathāgata often dwelt in the past to preach the Dharma. Now an image of him preaching the Dharma has been made, equal in size to the Tathāgata's body."